timing a 292-6

[77 cc lb]

hey everyone. i am going to attempt to put in a hei dist. in my 74 292-6  this w/e. if i put the harmonic bal. on 0 is that tdc? does the engine go through each cylinder once or twice in one rotation? i've been told it goes through twice, once on exhaust and one on compression, but i'm not sure if that is in one rotation of the engine. any help would appreciated.

[jaredts]

For each crank rotation the piston goes up once, the camshaft only spins halfway around.  It takes two rotations of the crank to make the cam rotate a full 360 degrees.  If you remove #1 sparkplug and stick your thumb over the hole (not in it!) while someone bumps the starter (disconnect the distributor power wire first) it will blow your thumb away when it gets near top dead center.  You can then put the distributor on so that the rotor is pointing to what you want to be the #1 position on the distributor.  Then you can set your timing.

[77 cc lb]

i've got dist. in does need to point to the #1 plug or where #1 should be on the dist.? thanks for any advice.

[VileZambonie]

i've got dist. in does need to point to the #1 plug or where #1 should be on the dist.? thanks for any advice.

Say that again 

[77 cc lb]

sorry vile, not good at describing. does the rotor on dist. need to point to where #1 should be on the cap.. i was looking at chilton manual and is showing the harmonic  balancer on 4 deg before 0, would that be tdc or on 0? thanks

[Lt.Del]

If you have it on TDC for #1 cylinder, point the rotor to the plug wire (button on the cap) that goes to the #1 cylinder. 
0 on the balancer should be TDC.  However, when timing correctly, look at the tune up specs to see where you should adjust it...advanced or retard.

 

[77 cc lb]

thank you jaredts and sgt del. i have that figured out, but now how to hook up the dist. has got me. it is supposed to be a one wire connection. do i connect the ign. wire straight to batt. connection on the dist.. would that be my 12 volt source or do i need make another conn. to a 12 volt source? the directions on ebay aren't to clear for a points to hei conversion. sorry if this might be confusing. 

[Lt.Del]

yep, ignition wire to batt. connection.  You should get 12 volts when key is on.  Then it goes to coil inside distributor to increase for firing.

You may have to rig up a connector tip on the ignition to fit inside the batt. connection.  If you have a salvage yard near you, cut one off a wrecked car and splice it on.  Or, got to radio shack or someplace and can figure out a connection.

[77 cc lb]

thank you sgtdel i appreciate your info. i wasn't sure if that give me 12 volts from ign. wire. thanks again